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Tim finds it one day while he is scrolling online. (He’s never a scroller but sometimes he gets bored okay. And Lucy has found things for him online while she did mindless scrolling.)
He’s not even sure how it popped up but it reminds him of Emma right away.
It’s a water bottle with little ladybugs all over it.
It screams Emma.
She loves ladybugs, she has brought them home from daycare almost every single day. Her nickname is Bug.
She has a ladybug big girl bed and a comforter that Lucy found online. And they do all encourage her to drink more water. Plus the water bottle comes in a kid size, so it’s perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
“What are you doing?” A voice asks behind him. Tim jumps a little and turns around to see Lucy. She has her gym clothes on, her hair is back in a ponytail. They usually went to the gym together when they had time. Their schedules didn’t always match up.
“Nothing.” He says quickly and he closes the laptop. “Are you going to the gym?”
“Yes.” Lucy says. “I’m dropping Emma off at the daycare there. Do you want to join me?”
Yes.
“Yes.” He says. “Just let me get ready.” Lucy nods and Tim gets up from his seat, he pauses and looks at her.
“Hey does Emma have water bottles?” He asks. Lucy furrows her eyebrows.
“A few here and there. Why?” She asks.
“No reason.” Tim says. He’s going to buy the water bottle for Emma later and surprise her with it. He knows the little girl would be over the moon about it. “I’ll be right back.” He walks off and quickly gets ready. He throws a few things in his gym bag and then he meets Lucy and Emma downstairs. Emma is holding a water bottle with all the princesses on it (also a favorite thing of hers.)
“Princesses?” He asks Lucy.
“She loves the princesses.” Lucy says. She takes her daughters hand. “She has a new favorite every week.”
“I know that,” Tim says and he does know that. He has had a princess tiara on his head more than once this week. “Isn’t this one a little small for her?”
“It’s fine for now.” Lucy says giving him a look. “Why are you so invested in her water bottles?”
“I don’t know.” Tim says. “I just want to make sure she is getting enough water.” Lucy pauses and looks at him.
“You are a sweet dad.” Lucy says. “You really are Tim.” Tim shrugs because it’s easy being a dad to Emma. It’s easy being with Lucy, and knowing they are a packaged deal. He never thought this would be his life.
He never thought he would have fallen in love with Lucy (because he was so in love with her. It was insane.)
“I try.”
“Keep doing what you are doing.” She says. “Emma needs it.” Tim nods and he thinks about ordering that water bottle.
Tim opens the door, and lifts Emma up so he can put her in her car seat. “Are you ready to go to the gym Bug?” He asks. “You can play while mommy and daddy work out.”
“Daddy play.” Emma says.
“Daddy is going to workout Bug.” Tim says and he gives her a kiss. He looks at Lucy who is already in the front seat and then at Emma. “But we can play later.” Emma squeals excitedly and kicks her feet.
“Yay!”
Tim shuts the door, and goes to the driver’s seat. He turns to look at Lucy before starting the truck.
“Ready?” She asks when he doesn’t say anything for a few minutes. Tim nods and he backs out of the driveway.
He would tell her about the water bottle later.
***
Tim spots Lucy as she lifts up the weight and then brings it back down before doing it again. He watches in amazement at how easily she does it.
“What?”
“You just amaze me.” Tim says. He puts the weights back and Lucy sits up and raises her eyebrows. “And I love you.”
“Hmmm.” Lucy says and she stands up. She wipes the equipment down and then gestures for him to lay down.
He does and she starts to spot him. “I really don’t know how you do it.” He says. He’s a little breathless, he hasn’t worked out in awhile.
“Do what?” She asks.
“Do everything that you do.” Tim says. “Be an amazing mom. An amazing detective. You are an amazing partner.”
“Well thank you baby.” Lucy says. Her cheers are a little red, and it makes him want to pull her down for a kiss. She’s beautiful and glowing even at the gym.
“Sure,” he says lifting it up again and back down. “Who else would I let spot me?”
“Your amazing girlfriend apparently.” Lucy says grinning at him. Tim hums softly, and then puts the weights back.
“Yes,” he says and he’s grateful he has Lucy to spot him. “I wanted to show you something.” Lucy freezes a little and looks at him with big eyes. He shakes his head, he knows what she is thinking and even if that will happen one day. Today was not that day. Not yet anyway.
“It’s not that Luce.” He says. “I definitely wouldn’t do it in a gym.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.” Lucy says. “What did you want to show me?” Tim pulls out his phone and pulls the picture of the water bottle up.
“For Emma.” He says. “Because she loves ladybugs.” Lucy takes the phone from him and stares at the screen until she finally looks up at him.
“You want to buy this for Emma?” She asks. “How did you find this?”
“I just stumbled upon it and we are always making sure she drinks more water. It’s definitely screams Emma doesn’t it?” He asks and maybe he’s a little excited but—
“You stumbled upon it?” Lucy asks. “You are the cutest. Yes it does scream Emma.” Tim shrugs and takes his phone back
“Should I order it? Will she like it? She’s almost 3.” He says. “Is that too young for a water bottle?”
“No it’s not too young Tim.” Lucy says looking amused. “Besides her water bottles are beat up, or she loses them.”
“Right.” He says. Lucy smiles at him before pulling him away.
“Come on we are still kid free for a little bit.” She says. “Let’s keep going.” Tim follows her over to some leg machines.
The both sit down and he looks over at her. He meant what he said earlier, she was amazing. An amazing mom, an amazing detective and partner.
He’s not sure why he’s so worried about a water bottle, he knows Emma would love it.
But—
“Hey,” Lucy voice pulls him out of his thoughts. “Start moving. I don’t want to be the only one moving.”
He does and for now he puts all his thoughts and worries aside. This was perfect.
***
Tim orders the water bottle when they get home, and when he’s tucking Emma into her ladybug bed he knows he ordered the right thing.
“Daddy love you.” She says in her sweet little voice. (He will never get tired of her calling him daddy nor that sweet voice.)
“I love you too Bug.” He says pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Go to sleep.”
“Okay.” Emma says and soon her eyes are closing. He gets up and turns her light off, he shuts the door halfway and then goes to join Lucy in the living room.
“She’s asleep.” He says to her. Lucy nods and makes room for him on the sofa since she’s stretched out. As soon as he sits down her legs are across his lap.
“Good.”
“Yep.” Tim says. “I ordered the water bottle.”
“Good. She’s going to love it.” Lucy says. “You are a good dad.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” Lucy says. Tim rubs at her ankles a little.
“Well you are a great dad.” She says. Tim smiles at her.
“I guess we make a great team huh?”
“Yes.” Lucy says. “Yes we do.”
***
The water bottle comes a few days later, Emma isn’t home from daycare yet but Tim can’t help but unpack it and put it on the counter.
Lucy and Emma come through the door a few minutes later, and Emma runs straight to him. He grabs the water bottle and he’s waiting for her.
“Daddy!” She squeals. He bends down and gives her a hug before holding the water bottle out. “Mine?”
“Yes Bug.” He says. “Daddy got this for you.” Emma looks at it, her tiny fingers moving over the ladybugs and then she gets a big smile on her face.
“Bugs!”
“Ladybugs Emma.” Lucy says. “Your favorite. What do you say to daddy?” Emma squeals and hugs the water bottle to her.
“Thank you.” Emma says. “Love you.” Tim smiles up at Lucy, and scoops Emma up in his arms.
“How about we go try that new water bottle out at the gym?” He asks. Emma nods enthusiastically. Lucy laughs and takes the water bottle to clean it and fill it up with water.
He looks at Emma and she is still smiling, and he would do anything to keep her smiling.
He loves his little family, no matter what. They worked through things together, they did the hard stuff together.
He has Lucy and Emma and they have him. Ladybug water bottles and all.
And that’s all that matters.